Santa Train — North Alabama Railroad Museum

The North Alabama Railroad Museum, an active railroad and museum that runs excursion trains from spring through the end of the year, offers its Santa Train as a cherished Christmas excursion from its depot in Huntsville, Alabama. The operator says Santa waits on the loading platform before boarding, ready for big smiles, hugs and the children's wish lists, which makes it a good spot for photos.

The ride lasts about 30 minutes through the countryside, in coaches the operator describes as fully enclosed and heated or cooled, whatever the weather. Seating is sold by class: Regular Class coaches, a First Class coach where a treat is served at your seat, and VIP Suites and VIP Roomettes in a separate car, where Santa also makes his own visit during the ride. Children aged 12 and under receive a present as they disembark; the operator says the present is larger in First Class and in the VIP cars.

The operator says these rides are incredibly popular and sell out fast, and asks families to book early.

About 30 minutes on a train with fully enclosed, heated or cooled coaches. Santa greets families on the loading platform before boarding. Children aged 12 and under receive a present as they leave the train, and guests in First Class, VIP Suites and VIP Roomettes are served a treat at their seats.

Departs from the North Alabama Railroad Museum depot, 694 Chase Road NE, Huntsville, Alabama. Tickets are sold through the museum's Etix page. Every rider, whatever the age, needs a ticket on the Santa Train. The museum asks passengers to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Parking is free, and no outside food or drink is permitted on the train. Infants under 12 months ride as lap infants on an infant ticket attached to an adult ticket; this is not available for suites or roomettes. A VIP Suite holds up to six people with no more than four adults; a VIP Roomette holds two people (two adults, or one child and one adult) and any child in a roomette must be accompanied by an adult. The museum says its wheelchair spaces are in car 1000, which is not on the train for the Santa Train rides. The operator says the rides sell out fast and recommends booking early.